Playing-ball.



Patented May 27, I902.

E. KEMPSHALL.

PLAYING BALL.

(Application filed Apr.

(No Model.)

mtnesses:

Uwrrnp Snares PATENT FFICE.

ELEAZER KEMPSI'IALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEMPSI-IALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PLAYING-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,944, dated May 27, 1902.

Application filed April 17,1902. Serial No. 103,341. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, acitizen of the United States, residing in Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing-balls, and especially to those intended for the game of golf; and its object is to enhance the durability and playing qualities of the ball.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view of a cored and clothcovered rubber sphere before a plastic casing is applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view of a blank from which a hemispherical ball -section is made. Fig. 3 is a View of one of a pair of cups or hemispheres, consisting of fabric and uncured rubber, which are united and cured together in making a sphere. Fig. 4 shows a cloth-covered sphere made from a pair of the cups shown in Fig. 3, and also the die in which said sphere is cured; and Fig. 5 shows the final stage in producing a golf-ball.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar characters of reference.

From blanks such as illustrated at Fig. 2 and consisting of a disk of fabric 1 having a thick facing 2 of uncured or partially-cured rubber I form hollow hemispheres or cups A, Fig. 3, two of which I place together edge to edge to form a ball. The joint between the cups I close by means of a strip or band of fabric 3, which is treated with cement or friction, and the parts thus assembled I place in a heating or curing mold 4:, Fig. 4, having an inlet5 for steam, which communicates with an inlet 6, formed in one of the cups 2. By the usual heating process the rubber is cured, the fabric then adhering strongly to the rubber, and the friction-band 3 being also vulcanized to the fabric 1, thus making an effectual reinforcement for the joint between the fabric hemispheres. The band becomes embedded in the ball, so that the latter has a smooth periphery, as at Fig. at. Into the ball thus formed I inject heated plastic material, such as gutta-percha, in the manner set forth in the patent granted to F. H. Richards, March 25, 1902, No. 696,352, the gutta-percha distending the ball B and preferably expanding or enlarging the same, the expansion being permitted by the yielding character of the textile fabric 1 and 3 upon the ball. The rubber O being in a state of tension over the gutta-percha core 7, Fig. 1, produces a highly resilient and excellent playing-ball. Upon a ball thus formed I apply a shell 8 of plastic material, such as gutta percha or celluloid, preferably the former, and subject the whole to heat and compression in dies 9 and 10, maintaining the compression until the shell cools and hardens, so that it may thereafter hold the compound filling in a state of compression. Before applying the shell 8 I preferably coat the core B with cement,

One of the principal advantages of my present improvements lies in the strength of the shell, since the gutta percha adheres thoroughly to the fabric and the latter is also firmly vulcanized upon the rubber, so that it is practicallyimpossible to separate the guttapercha or celluloid shell from the ball. It is further noted that the ball throughout is in a tense lively condition and well adapted for long drives in the game of golf. Owing to the presence of the fabric 1 the ball is prevented from being too sensitive when struck alight blow, so that it is also well adapted for putting. It is also noted that the rubber ball B is accurately formed, and hence the core 7 therein is accurately centered, so that the ball will run true in putting and will also fly with accuracy.

It will be seen that the plastic shell 8 may be omitted and the ball illustrated at Fig. 1 used for base-ball and other games, and, if desired, other than plastic material maybe used for the shell. It will also be seen that the hollow ball illustrated at Fig. 4 is well adapted for certain games, and, if desired, may be provided with other than a plastic covering within the scope of my present improvements. Other variations may be resorted to within the scope of my present improvements.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A playing-ball comprising a cloth-covered rubber sphere in a state of expansion upon a solid core of gutta-percha; said cover consisting of hemispherical segments and a strip of fabric vulcanized upon such segments and reinforcing the joint thereb'etween.

2. A playing-ball comprising a sphere of soft rubber, a cover of fabric vulcanized thereon, and ashell formed of plastic material upon said sphere.

3. A playing ball comprising a hollow sphere of soft rubber, a layer of fabric vulcanized upon one of its surfaces, and a hard shell formed of plastic material and cemented upon said sphere.

4. A playing-ball comprising a sphere of soft rubber, a layer of fabric vulcanized upon its outer face, and a shell formed of guttapercha and filled by said sphere.

5. A playing ball comprising a hollow sphere of soft rubber, hemispheres of fabric vulcanized thereon, a fabric strip closing the joint between said fabric hemispheres and vulcanized thereon, and a shell formed of plastic material holding said sphere under compression.

6. A playing-ball comprising a sphere of soft rubber, a layer of fabric vulcanized thereon, said sphere being distended by mobile material injected thereinto; and a plastic shell upon said sphere.

7. A playing-ball comprising a sphere of soft rubber, a layer of fabric vulcanized upon its outer face; said sphere being distended by plastic material injected thereinto; and a shell of plastic material holding said sphere under compression.

8. A playing ball comprising a hollow sphere of soft rubber, hemispheres of fabric vulcanized thereon, a fabric strip closing the joint between said fabric hemispheres and vulcanized thereon, said sphere being distended by gutta-percha injected thereinto; and a shell of gutta-percha upon said sphere.

9. A playing-ball comprising a sphere of soft rubber, alayer of fabric Vulcanized thereon, said sphere being expanded upon a solid core of harder material than said rubber; and a shell formed of gutta percha upon said sphere. I

10. A playing-ball comprising a cloth-covered rubber sphere in a state of expansion upon a solid core of springy material, the rubber being vulcanized to the cloth, and a shell formed of plastic material upon said sphere.

11. A playing-ball comprising a cloth-covered rubber sphere in a state of expansion upon a solid core of gutta-percha, said cover consisting of hemispherical segments, a strip of fabric vulcanized upon such segments and reinforcing thejointtherebetween, and a shell formed of gutta percha and holding said sphere under compression.

ELEAZER KEMPSI-IALL.

Witnesses:

B. O. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

